!Essential Questions

©Understanding by Design

A model of learning based on the precepts outlined by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTigue.

This in-service used the ©Understanding by Design (UbD) model.

Essential Questions are based on the Six Facets of Understanding.

Explanation	What is a podcast? How can a podcast be used to further learning? How can a podcast be used to enhance an instructor's teaching?
Interpretation	How is learning with audio tools different from other methodologies? How might one use a podcast to further student achievement? What does the use of podcasts reveal about learning styles?
Application	How can I use podcasting in my classroom to better student achievement? Does the creation of podcasts by students further their learning? Does the use of podcasts during class enhance learning? What additional technologies may be learned by podcasting?
Perspective	Do students like podcasts? Am I, as an instructor, comfortable with using podcasts in the classroom? Do students like to create podcasts? What are the strengths and weaknesses of podcasting? What are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching using podcasts?
Empathy	How can this tool be used to meet the special needs of all students? Does the use of podcasts enhance the learning of students who prefer audio? Does the flexibility of podcasting enhance the learning of speakers of other languages? What would it be like to be on the recipient's end of a podcast?
Self-knowledge	Am I using podcasts effectively in the classroom? What are the limits of my understanding of this tool? How can these be improved? How can I best show my students how to create podcasts? Am I using the podcasts in combination with other teaching methodologies? Am I staying apprised of the latest version of the software and any upgrades available? Is this a state-of-the art tool?

WHERETO highlights the key considerations and serves as an analytical tool for the design model.

W	Where and Why	Participants will understand the use of a podcast. Participants will understanding the many facets of the software Participants will understand the use of visual learning tools. Participants will be guided through a series of practices of each facet of this tool.
H	Hook and Hold	Presentation through power point presentations and videos will introduce the software. Details of the steps to the usage of the Audacity software are examined.
E	Explore, Experience, Enable, Equip	An overview is presented to understand the nature of this tool. A pre-assessment survey should be taken as an initiation to the in-service. Guided practices should be studied and applied to classroom learning. Videos detailing the tool should be watched.
R	Reflect, Rethink, Revise	Participants will actively explore all of the pages available in this in-service. Participants will create a podcast and then revise and edit it according to classroom needs. Participants will use Audacity software in the classroom when appropriate. Participants will use the discussion tab of this wiki for suggestions and revisions.
E	Evaluate	A pre-assessment survey will be presented at the beginning of the in-service. Participants will self-evaluate throughout the in-service at the end of each guided practice. Participants should ask themselves whether they are using this tool in the most effective manner. Students and teacher alike will create and critique each others' podcasts.
T	Tailor	Participants will edit the creation of their podcast. Participants will foster the creation of podcasts in their classrooms. Students will tailer the content of their podcasts to their respective subject and discipline.
O	Organize, Optimize	Participants will organize and optimize their time to reach a deep understanding of the software so as to use it in the most effective manner for student achievement.